PERCEPTIONS ON THE SUCCESS AND FAILURES OF THE SOMALI PEACE INITIATIVES BY SOMALI REFUGEES LIVING IN KENYA AND LESSON FOR FUTURE INITIATIVES

Abstract

Since the collapse of the Somali central government in 1991, international Governments have mobilized world community and the Somali people themselves to develop a comprehensive approach in an effort to restore peace in the north horn country. This study sought to establish the perceptions on the success and failures of the Somali peace initiatives by Somali refuge living in Kenya and lesson for future initiatives. The objectives of the study were first, to investigates the various approaches to conflict resolution in Somalia. Secondly, to find out the achievements and setbacks in the Somalia peace process and thirdly, to make recommendations on the way forward for the attainment of sustainable peace. The study was conducted in Eastleigh area of Nairobi city targeting a population of 100,000 refugees, who are registered by UNHCR, Transitional Federal Government Members of Parliament, and ministers, representatives of regional administrations and members of Civil Society Organization.. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to acquire a sample of 100 respondents consisting of 80 refugees, 10 representatives of regional administrations, 5 traditional leaders and 5 members of CSO. Data was collected using questionnaires and it was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The design for this study was exploratory. The study revealed that the main factors contributing to the protracted conflict in Somalia are the non-inclusive approach to peace, inequality in sharing resources, imbalance in power sharing, emergence of extremist groups, and dishonest leadership. The study also revealed that indigenous peace building methods are preferred as a way forward for realizing lasting peace in Somalia. The study revealed that Somali people have not been able to attend the various peace conferences and thus their views have not been heard. The different communities living in Somalia have not been united for a long time despite of the fact there share a similar background and religion that is Islamic. The study established that the various peace approaches used in Somalia peace process were, reconciliation , mediation , sharing of resource, sharing of powers , involvement of the clans , regulating the interactions within and between local warring communities, use of customary laws and Islamic sharia laws, through national reconciliation conferences and through the through international reconciliation conferences, from the finding the study concludes that there has been use of various approaches in the Somalia peace process. The study found that there were success in the Somalia peace process which include the formation of Somalia Transition Federal Government, there were better resources for the people , there are better publicized national reconciliation processes, there are International Aid which includes food and Shelter, provision of beater security by Somalia TFG , There is Addressing immediate crisis by the international community and there has been creation of employment opportunities, thus the study concludes that there has been success in the Somalia peace process .The study found that there were various setbacks in the peace process in Somalia which were lack of equal share of the resources in their country, power by minority, extremist groups, lack of stable government, governments influence in the reconciliation process, Somalia leaders have not been able to honor their promises of striving for peace in the country, presence of spoilers in the mediation processes. , presence of external interests , Mogadishu warlords, interest from terror groups that still feel they need to control the country.